The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-12

OF the settlement Of the Scioto Valley by laying
out on his own land what is now the city of Chill
licOthe. Chillicothe was an important settle
|. ment from the beginning, and 1t is Of its early
history that this sketch will treat. In 1901 Mus
sic made o settlement ut Manchester, in Adams
County, but 1t did not thrive, and he made use
OF the station there base of supplies and
for point OF rally and departure, as he was en-
gagged in surveying the Virginia military lands
in the Scioto Valley, given by Congress to SOL
ders Of the Old Dominion.
Chiilicotho was settled by colonists from the
South. The pioneer Of the Scioto Valley, the
man who did the most to explore, develop and
settle 1t, was Nathaniel Massie, native of
Goochland County, Virginia, born in 1863.
Colonel Massie's father was u farmer in easy
circumstances, who educated his sons for the
practical work OF life. At the age OF seventeen
young Mnssie was soldier in the Continental
army. Aftor his return from the service, like
so many OF the pioneers OF Ohio, he became q
surveyor and in 1883 set ont to seek his fortunes
in Kentucky. He was by nature fitted for the
dangerous and difficult work Of an explorer
and surveyor on the frontier, and he soon ac-
quired nll of the skill and craft of the woods.
He was thorough woodsman, and could en-
durc all sorts OF exposure and hardshps, fire.
qucntly living for long periods upon either
bread or meat alone, and preserving all the
while the utmost cheerfulness Of disposition.
He was blessed with an uncommon quality and
quantity of cool courage, to which was added
excellent judgment and forethought The re-
sult OF his having these qualities of mind and
character was that he became d reliable and
potent leader Of men.
For time Massie embarked in the salt-mak-
ing business which was then q much more
profitable and important industry that it now
is. He was occasionally employed however, in
the office of Colonel r. G.. Anderson, tho chief
surveyor Of the Virginia military lands. A
large number of land warrants were placed in
Nassies hands to enter and survey upon such
terms rs he could get from the owners Of them.
The risk Of making land entries and surveys
was very great, as the Scioto country was In
tested with hostile Indians, so the surveyors
were able to make liberal terms with the own
ers Of the land. One-third, one-fourth, and we
arc told that one-half Of the good land acquired
by the work Of the surveyors was given them
for their services. If the owners preferred to
pay cash for the work Of having their lands en-
tered and located, the usual charge was ten
pounds, Virginia currency, for every thousand
acres enteredand surveyed, plus some expenses
Tho location Of land warrants in the Virginia
Military District between the Scioto and the
Little Miami, prior to $780, says Mcdonald in
his rare and interesting sketches, was made by
stealth. Every creek that was explored every
line that was run, was ut the risk of life from
the savage Indians, whose courage and perse-
verance was only equaled by the perseverance
OF the whites to push forward their settle-
ments.
In the fall Of 1913 Massie decided to undertake
o surveying tour on the Soioto river, though he
well knew that the time he had selected was
particularly dangerous period. But little he
cared for the danger SO with no ear for remon-
STRANGE he fitted out his expedition. His party
consisted of thirty men, three OF whom besides
himself were surveyors. Their names were
John Beasley, Nathaniel Beasey and Peter
Lee. 1t was In this expedition that Duncan
NcArthur, destined to become Governor Of
the State of Ohio, was employed as q chain
bearer. In October the expedition started up
the Scioto, which they assembled Us far as the
site Of Chillicothe without any long halts. A
number OF surveys were made, and Massie fin
ished the work that he had projected without
interference from the Indians. Massies purity
returned to Kentucky with glowing accounts Of
the beautiful valley that had been explored.
In the following winter Massie explored from
their mouths to their sources the branches of
the Little Miami river. Later he traced out
other remote tributaries of the Little Miami,
and penetrated US far northwest as what is now
Clarke County.
The surveyors lot was not always ON easy or
happy one in the olden days. Massie's party
endured great privations on their last expe-
dition. During the tour, which continued thirty
days, they had no bread. For the first two
weeks o pint Of -four was distributed to each
mess once o day to mix with the soup made
from game. At night they were afraid to sleep
by fires lest the light might make their bodies
attractive targets for rowing Indians; SO when It